Here is baby winniebee 2.0's birth story!

A little background. I had been monitored by high risk doctors since 28 weeks for having a potentially growth restricted baby (something I didn't really talk about on the boards). Our first son, T, was born at 5lb 5oz and 17.5 inches at 38.5 weeks. So when my doctors found that this baby was measuring small, it came as no surprise to us. After all my husband and I are small people and T is still a peanut (but totally proportionate) at age 2.5. So I really wasn't all that concerned about having another small baby. What concerned our doctors was that this baby showed assymmetrical growth - his head to belly ratio was not proportionate, which sometimes can be a sign of IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation). As such, I had bi weekly growth scans and bi weekly ultrasounds from 28w on. At my 36 week growth scan they estimated the baby at just over 5 lbs. At my 38 week growth scan, the high risk doctor concluded that the baby had not grown since 36 weeks so it was time to induce. All of this is sort of ironic since I had been having preterm contractions and modified my activity from 30-37 weeks so as not to deliver this baby pre-term....and now I was being induced at 38 weeks, 2 days. When I heard that my baby was no longer growing, I was pretty panicked. But I also knew that at 38 weeks he would probably be just fine. I was also at the point of being over contractions and late pregnancy aches, and was feeling ready to have him. We knew that my cervix was favorable (2cm and 80% effaced at 37 weeks) so were hoping for a quick induction.

We arrived at the hospital at 11:30 on December 9. Because I was an induction on doctors orders, I didn't have to go through triage and immediately got to go to my (pretty awesome) labor and delivery room. Took awhile to get checked in by nurses, get an IV etc. On the monitor I was having mild contractions about every 10 mins on my own. Chatted with OB who said she could either start pitocin or just break my water since I was already at 2cm. We decided that if I was closer to 3cm we would just break my water. The L and D floor was pretty quiet so I actually ended up with a nurse all to myself! Got checked by my OB and I was 2-3cm and mostly effaced and very soft so she went ahead and broke my water at 1:45. From there, contractions started coming closer together (every 5 mins or so) and started becoming more painful. I ate lunch (my hospital allows food in l and D so long as you haven't had an epidural) and then we walked the floor for a bit. Contractions were more painful but not quite painful enough for my epidural. My OB came and checked me again at 530 and I was dilated to a 4. I was annoyed I hadn't made more progress, but my doc assured me that second time moms progress pretty quickly after 4cm.

We decided to eat dinner (I wasn't hungry) before I got an epidural. I ate and at 630 the contractions were coming fast and furious so I requested the epidural. But the anesthesia team was in an emergency c section. Bad news because by 7 pm I was noat the point where I was screaming and crying through contractions. My nurse wasn't sure when the epidural team would be able to fit me in and I started panicking a little. They offered an alternative pain relief (some narcotic I forget but my OB didn't recommend it Bc it can make you feel drunk). We tried lots of different techniques to get through the contractions (I never planned on a med free birth so never even took a birthing class!!) I tried using the tub around 815 and that helped a little. Finally the epidural team came in at 820. Right on time because I started shaking like crazy and was so nauseous.

Got my epidural at 830 (relief set in soon after) and my OB checked me again - I was 7cm and she told me I would be ready to push in an hour. I relaxed for that hour and around 930 had an intense urge to push - by that time I was fully dilated. By the time my team was assembled (nicu had to be there because of my IUGR diagnosis) it was 945 and I was ready to push. My epidural was great I could still feel pressure from contractions and could use my legs and could feel pressure while pushing.

After 15 mins of pushing, Ryan Joseph was born on December 9 at 9:59 pm. He was 5 lb 6 oz and 19 inches and totally healthy. They monitored his sugars in the hospital for 24 hours and we did supplement with a syringe of formula a few times to keep his sugars up. We left the hospital when he was 5 lbs even. But he seemed like a natural nurser and since getting home his output has been great. By one week old he was back to his birth weight.

We are settling into a "new" routine as a family of 4. Big brother is enamored and kisses baby brother about 100 times a day and has been so sweet with him but has had some meltdowns and trouble sleeping. I'm sure it's a big adjustment for him. But at 9 days old, we are all in love with our new little man!